Parents hot under the collar over Footscray High School’s uniform change

After months of detentions for students failing to meet uniform standards, a school in Melbourne’s western suburbs has made a drastic change.

Footscray High School has overhauled its uniform policy. Picture: Supplied

Students at a high school in Melbourne’s western suburbs are no longer forced to wear full uniform, with new rules stating only that a top with the school logo on it must be worn.

Footscray High School’s new 2023 uniform guidelines come as many state high schools are cracking down on uniform infringements as students push to express their individuality with their hair and clothes.

However, Footscray High’s new senior campus policy says it only requires the students to wear as a “bare minimum one visible item of the Footscray High School uniform” in order to “enhance school pride and reduce pressure on families to provide popular (and often expensive) brands of tops/pants and shorts”.

Students at Footscray High School will no longer be made to wear a full uniform. Picture: Supplied

The new amalgamated school, which sees itself as “future-focused, open-minded and proudly progressive” has a list of exemptions to the dress code on the grounds of finances, cultural belief or disability.

Detentions currently in place for those not complying have been removed.

The rules apply to those attending the Kinnear Campus in years 10 to 12 next year.

It contrasts to the junior Barkly and Pilgrim campuses which both require students to wear full uniform at all times.

Principal Frank Vetere wrote to parents advising them of the new uniform rules, which are the culmination of a three-year transition from the uniforms of Footscray City College and Gilmore College for Girls to the new high school.

Mr Vetere said the review of the uniform policies “has been centred on feedback and leadership by our SLAT (Student Leadership Action Team)”.

“The drivers of the change include, school culture/identity, unity, comfort, affordability, sustainability, parent/carer feedback and student voice,” Mr Vetere wrote.

“I am optimistic that the new uniform policies will be well received,” he said.

A number of parents have been sharing their dissatisfaction in online forums.

One parent told the Herald Sun the lax rules give the impression that “anything goes” which was the wrong message given that only half of all students wear uniform anyway.

She said the senior campus “looked like the poor cousin of the Barkly and Pilgrim campuses and still does.

“I really do feel like we were sucked into sending our kids to the school with all the bells and whistles – there felt to be a lot of promises of great things – and a lot of families did the same thing believing what was on offer,” she said.

One parent called it “very odd”.

“We have just spent three years getting detentions for the wrong uniform on sports days and now this,” she said.